Romero v. Bank of America, N.A.

Plaintiff Charles N. Romero brings this lawsuit against defendant Bank of America, NA, asserting claims for breach of a Home Affordable Modification Program ("HAMP") contract and violations of the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act ("RESPA"), 12 U.S.C. § 2601 et seq. These claims arise out of defendant's servicing of plaintiff's residential mortgage loan. This matter comes before the Court on defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment (Doc. 19). For the reasons explained below, the Court grants defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment.

I. Procedural Background

On May 21, 2014, defendant filed its Motion for Summary Judgment (Doc. 19). Plaintiff's response to that motion was due on June 11, 2014. See D. Kan. Rule 6.1(d)(2) (responses to motions for summary judgment must be filed and served within 21 days). On June 20, 2014, plaintiff filed a Motion for Extension of Time to File a Response to the Motion for Summary Judgment (Doc. 21), requesting a 90 day extension of time to file his response to defendant's summary judgment motion. The Court granted plaintiff's motion and ordered plaintiff to file a response to defendant's summary judgment motion on or before September 20, 2014. That deadline has long since passed, and plaintiff has not filed a response to defendant's summary judgment motion.

Because plaintiff has not responded to defendant's summary judgment motion, the Court may "consider and decide the motion as an uncontested motion." See D. Kan. Rule 7.4(b). "Ordinarily, the court will grant the motion without further notice." Id. But a party's failure to respond to a summary judgment motion-alone-is not a sufficient basis on which to enter judgment. Reed v. Bennett, 312 F.3d 1190, 1195 (10th Cir. 2002). Instead, the Court must determine whether judgment for the moving party is appropriate under Fed.R.Civ.P. 56. Id. Therefore, the Court considers the merits of defendant's summary judgment motion below.

But because plaintiff failed to file a response, he waives the right to respond or controvert the facts asserted in defendant's summary judgment motion. Reed, 312 F.3d at 1195. Thus, the Court accepts as true all material facts asserted and properly supported in defendant's summary judgment motion, as identified in the analysis below. Id.

II. Uncontroverted Facts

The following facts either have been stipulated by the parties in the Pretrial Order (Doc. 14) or are uncontroverted.

Plaintiff obtained a mortgage loan for $184, 500 from First Franklin Loan Services ("First Franklin") in March 2006. The loan was secured by a mortgage on plaintiff's residence, located at 5521 E. 67th Street, Mission, Kansas.

First Franklin offered plaintiff a Home Affordable Modification Trial Period Plan (the "TPP") for the Loan with an effective date of August 1, 2010. The TPP required plaintiff to make three trial plan payments in the amount of $1, 348.25 each, on or before August 1, 2010, September 1, 2010, and October 1, 2010, respectively. The TPP provides, in relevant part:

If prior to the Modification Effective Date, (i) the Servicer does not provide me a fully executed copy of this Plan and the Modification Agreement; (ii) I have not made the Trial Period payments required under Section 2 of this Plan; or (iii) the Servicer determines that my representations in Section 1 are no longer true and correct, the Loan Documents will not be modified and this Plan will terminate. In this event, the Servicer will have all of the rights and remedies provided by the Loan Documents, and any payment I make under this Plan shall be applied to amounts I owe under the Loan Documents and shall not be refunded to me; and I understand that the Plan is not a modification of the Loan Documents and that the Loan Documents will not be modified unless and until (i) I meet all of the conditions required for modification, (ii) I receive a fully executed copy of a Modification Agreement, and (iii) the Modification Effective Date has passed. I further understand and agree that the Servicer will not be obligated or bound to make any modification of the Loan Documents if I fail to meet any one of the requirements under this Plan.

TPP at ¶ 2.E (Doc. 20-1 at 26). Plaintiff signed the TPP on July 27, 2010. First Franklin did not sign the TPP.

First Franklin issued a Home Affordable Modification Agreement (Step Two of Two-Step Documentation Process) (the "HAMP Agreement") to plaintiff. Section 3 of the HAMP Agreement provides:

If my representations in Section 1 continue to be true in all material respects and all preconditions to the modification set forth in Section 2 have been met, the Loan Documents will automatically become modified on November 1, 2010 (the "Modification Effective Date") and all the unpaid late charges that remain unpaid will be waived. I understand that if I have failed to make any payments as a precondition to this modification under a workout plan or trial period plan, this modification will not take effect. The first modified payment will be due on November 1, 2010.

HAMP Agreement at ¶ 3 (Doc. 20-1 at 34). The representations in Section 1 include the representation that "I have made or will make all payments required under a Trial Period Plan or Loan Workout Plan." Id. at ¶ 1.G (Doc. 20-1 at 34).

The acknowledgements and preconditions in Section 2 of the HAMP Agreement provide:

A. If prior to the Modification Effective Date as set forth in Section 3 the Lender determines that any of my representations in Section 1 are no longer true and correct, the Loan Documents will not be modified and this Agreement will terminate. In this event, the Lender will have all of the rights and remedies provided by the Loan Documents.

B. I understand that the Loan Documents will not be modified unless and until (i) I receive from the Lender a copy of this Agreement signed by the Lender; and (ii) the Modification Effective Date (as defined in Section 3) has occurred. I further understand and agree that the Lender will not be obligated or bound to make any modification of the Loan Documents if I fail to meet any one of the requirements under this Agreement.

Id. at ¶ 2 (Doc. 20-1 at 34).

Plaintiff signed and returned the HAMP Agreement to First Franklin. Neither First Franklin nor defendant signed the HAMP Agreement.

In October 2010, defendant acquired the servicing rights to plaintiff's loan from First Franklin. Defendant received records from First Franklin showing that plaintiff had made only two of the three required trial plan payments before October 1, 2010. Defendant did not receive the third trial payment from plaintiff before November 1, 2010. Defendant refused to honor the modification set forth in the HAMP Agreement, and instead required plaintiff to pay the monthly payment due under the unmodified mortgage.

Defendant's business records reflect that since October 2010, it has received four payments of $1, 350 each from plaintiff, on August 17, 2011, September 30, 2011, February 3, 2012, and April 9, 2012, and another payment of $1, 350 on July 9, 2012, which plaintiff's bank returned for insufficient funds to pay the check. On November 5, 2012, defendant sent plaintiff a Notice of Intent to Accelerate and Foreclose, which reflects that plaintiff was required to pay by December 15, 2012, a total amount of $78, 888.26, to cure the default.

Plaintiff sent defendant a letter dated October 10, 2012, which purported to be a qualified written request ("QWR") for purposes of the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act ("RESPA"), 12 U.S.C. § 2605(e). Plaintiff sent this letter to 6200 Tennyson Pkwy, Suite 110, Plano, Texas XXXXX-XXXX. Defendant's designated address for receipt of QWRs for purposes of RESPA is P.O. Box 942019, Simi Valley, CA 93094-2019, as stated in the monthly mortgage statements defendant sent to plaintiff (Doc. 20-1 at 44, 46).

III. Summary Judgment Standard

Summary judgment is appropriate if the moving party demonstrates that there is "no genuine dispute as to any material fact" and that it is "entitled to a judgment as a matter of law." Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(a). When it applies this standard, the Court views the evidence and draws inferences in the light most favorable to the non-moving party. Nahno-Lopez v. Houser, 625 F.3d 1279, 1283 (10th Cir. 2010) (citing Oldenkamp v. United Am. Ins. Co., 619 F.3d 1243, 1245-46 (10th Cir. 2010)). "An issue of fact is genuine' if the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the non-moving party' on the issue." Id. (quoting Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248 (1986)). "An issue of fact is material' if under the substantive law it is essential to the proper disposition of the claim' or defense." Id. (quoting Adler v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 144 F.3d 664, 670 (10th Cir. 1998) (citing Anderson, 477 U.S. at 248)).

The moving party bears "both the initial burden of production on a motion for summary judgment and the burden of establishing that summary judgment is appropriate as a matter of law.'" Kannady v. City of Kiowa, 590 F.3d 1161, 1169 (10th Cir. 2010) (quoting Trainor v. Apollo Metal Specialties, Inc., 318 F.3d 976, 979 (10th Cir. 2003)). To meet this burden, the moving party "need not negate the non-movant's claim, but need only point to an absence of evidence to support the non-movant's claim.'" Id. (quoting Sigmon v. CommunityCare HMO, Inc., 234 F.3d 1121, 1125 (10th Cir. 2000)).

If the moving party satisfies its initial burden, the non-moving party "may not rest on its pleadings, but must bring forward specific facts showing a genuine issue for trial as to those dispositive matters for which it carries the burden of proof.'" Id. (quoting Jenkins v. Wood, 81 F.3d 988, 990 (10th Cir. 1996)); see also Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 324 (1986); Anderson, 477 U.S. at 248-49. "To accomplish this, the facts must be identified by reference to affidavits, deposition transcripts, or specific exhibits incorporated therein." Adler, 144 F.3d at 671 (citing Thomas v. Wichita Coca-Cola Bottling Co., 968 F.2d 1022, 1024 (10th Cir.), cert. denied, 506 U.S. 1013 (1992)).

Summary judgment is not a "disfavored procedural shortcut." Celotex, 477 U.S. at 327. Rather, it is an important procedure "designed to secure the just, speedy and inexpensive determination of every action.'" Id. (quoting Fed.R.Civ.P. 1).

IV. Analysis

A. Breach of the HAMP Agreement

Plaintiff asserts that defendant breached the HAMP Agreement by ignoring the loan modifications authorized and implemented under that contract and instead charged plaintiff the monthly payment due under the unmodified mortgage and assessed late fees and other charges for plaintiff's violations of the terms of the unmodified mortgage. Defendant responds that plaintiff failed to satisfy the conditions precedent to the loan modification, and therefore the HAMP Agreement never became effective. Thus, defendant asserts that it did not breach the terms of the HAMP Agreement because that contract never took effect.

something that it is agreed must happen or be performed before a right can accrue to enforce the main contract. It is one without the performance of which the contract, although in form executed and delivered by the parties, cannot be enforced. A condition precedent requires the performance of some act or the happening of some event after the terms of the contract, including the condition precedent, have been agreed on before the contract shall take effect.'

Here, it is uncontroverted that the TPP required plaintiff to make three trial plan payments of $1, 348.25, on or before August 1, 2010, September 1, 2010, and October 1, 2010, respectively. Plaintiff admits that he did not make all three trial payments on or before the deadline. The TPP further provides that if plaintiff fails to make the trial plan payments, "the Loan Documents will not be modified and this Plan will terminate." TPP at ¶ 2.E (Doc. 20-1 at 26). The TPP also states that plaintiff "understand[s] and agree[s] that the Servicer will not be obligated or bound to make any modification of the Loan Documents if [plaintiff] fail[s] to meet any one of the requirements under this Plan." Id.

In addition, the HAMP Agreement states that the loan modification described in that agreement will not take effect if the borrower "failed to make any payments as a precondition to this modification under a workout plan or trial period plan...." HAMP Agreement at ¶ 3 (Doc. 20-1 at 34). The HAMP Agreement also includes a representation by the borrower that he has "made or will make all payments required under a Trial Period Plan or Loan Workout Plan." Id. at ¶ 1.G (Doc. 20-1 at 34).

The HAMP Agreement also contains acknowledgments that:

A. If prior to the Modification Effective Date as set forth in Section 3 the Lender determines that any of my representations in Section 1 are no longer true and correct, the Loan Documents will not be modified and this Agreement will terminate. In this event, the Lender will have all of the rights and remedies provided by the Loan Documents.

B. I understand that the Loan Documents will not be modified unless and until (i) I receive from the Lender a copy of this Agreement signed by the Lender; and (ii) the Modification Effective Date (as defined in Section 3) has occurred. I further understand and agree that the Lender will not be obligated or bound to make any modification of the Loan Documents if I fail to meet any one of the requirements under this Agreement.

Id. at ¶ 2 (Doc. 20-1 at 34) (emphasis added).

The uncontroverted facts establish that plaintiff made only two of the three required trial plan payments before November 1, 2010 (the effective date of the loan modification as stated in the HAMP Agreement). Thus, plaintiff failed to satisfy the conditions precedent to the HAMP Agreement taking effect. Under the terms of that Agreement, plaintiff's failure to satisfy those conditions terminated the HAMP Agreement, and defendant had no obligation to make any modification to the loan documents.

In addition, the HAMP Agreement includes the condition precedent that the lender must sign the HAMP Agreement before the loan documents are modified. HAMP Agreement at ¶ 2 (Doc. 20-1 at 34) ("I understand that the Loan Documents will not be modified unless and until (i) I receive from the Lender a copy of this Agreement signed by the Lender...."). It is uncontroverted that neither First Franklin nor defendant signed the HAMP Agreement. Therefore, another condition precedent to the contract did not occur, thereby rendering the HAMP Agreement ineffective and unenforceable.

Because plaintiff did not satisfy the conditions precedent contained in the contract, the HAMP Agreement never took effect. Consequently, plaintiff's claim for breach of the HAMP Agreement fails as a matter of law.

B. Violations of RESPA

RESPA is a "consumer protection statute enacted to regulate real estate settlement processes." Berneike v. CitiMortgage, Inc., 708 F.3d 1141, 1145 (10th Cir. 2013) (citing 12 U.S.C. § 2601). "Under RESPA, a servicer of a federally related mortgage loan' may be liable for damages to a borrower if it fails to adequately respond to a qualified written request (QWR)." Id. (citing 12 U.S.C. § 2605(e)-(f)). RESPA requires the servicer of a federally related mortgage loan, upon receipt of a QWR, to acknowledge receipt and provide a written response within certain time periods. 12 U.S.C. § 2605(e)(1)-(2).[3] RESPA also provides that "[d]uring the 60-day period beginning on the date of the servicer's receipt from any borrower of a [QWR]... a servicer may not provide information regarding any overdue payment, owed by such borrower and relating to such period or qualified written request, to any consumer reporting agency...." 12 U.S.C. § 2605(e)(3).

Plaintiff asserts that defendant violated RESPA in two ways: (1) by failing to respond to a QWR that plaintiff mailed to defendant on October 10, 2012; and (2) by reporting information to consumer reporting agencies about overdue payments that plaintiff owed for the loan referenced in the QWR after defendant received the QWR. Defendant argues in response that RESPA's requirements are triggered only if a servicer receives a QWR from a borrower, but, in this case, plaintiff did not send the QWR to defendant's designated address for receipt of QWRs. Thus, defendant argues that the letter sent by plaintiff does not qualify as a QWR under RESPA, and therefore defendant is not liable for a violation of that Act.

When the events in this case took place, federal regulations allowed a servicer to designate an address for receipt of QWRs. See 24 C.F.R. § 3500.21(e)(1) ("By notice either included in the Notice of Transfer or separately delivered by first-class mail, postage prepaid, a servicer may establish a separate and exclusive office and address for the receipt and handling of qualified written requests."); see also 12 C.F.R. § 1024.21(e)(1) (same).[4]

In considering the federal regulation that allows a servicer to designate an address for receipt of QWRs, the Tenth Circuit has explained that "RESPA and its implementing regulation envisioned that only certain communications would trigger liability for damages under § 2605, and delineated certain requirements for communications before imposing that liability." Berneike, 708 F.3d at 1149 (citing Medrano v. Flagstar Bank, FSB, 704 F.3d 661, 667-68 (9th Cir. 2012)). A communication that fails to meet the requirements of RESPA and its implementing regulation "amounts to nothing more than general correspondence between a borrower and servicer." Id. Instead, "[r]eceipt at the designated address is necessary to trigger RESPA duties...." Id.

In Berneike, the borrower faxed over a hundred different letters to a mortgage loan servicer claiming that the servicer had billed her incorrectly for overcharges and improper fees. Id. at 1143-44. The borrower sent some of the letters to an address of the servicer in Illinois and others to an address of the servicer in Nevada, but neither of those addresses was the servicer's designated address for receiving QWRs. Id. at 1143-44, 1146. Because the borrower had failed to send the letters to the servicer's designated address, the Tenth Circuit held that receipt of the letters at the different addresses is insufficient to trigger the servicer's duties under RESPA. Id. at 1149. It thus affirmed the district court's dismissal of the borrower's RESPA claim under Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(6). Id.

The uncontroverted facts are similar here. They establish that defendant designated an address for receipt of QWRs for purposes of RESPA. That address is P.O. Box 942019, Simi Valley, CA 93094-2019, and it is listed as the designated address for receipt of QWRs in the monthly mortgage statements defendant sent to plaintiff. Plaintiff failed to send the October 10, 2012 letter to that designated address. Instead, plaintiff sent the letter to 6200 Tennyson Pkwy, Suite 110, Plano, Texas XXXXX-XXXX. Under these facts, plaintiff's "[f]ailure to send the QWR to the designated address for receipt and handling of [QWRs]' does not trigger the servicer's duties under RESPA." Berneike, 708 F.3d at 1149 (citing Regions Hosp. v. Shalala, 522 U.S. 448, 457 (1998)). Therefore, defendant has not violated RESPA and is entitled to summary judgment on plaintiff's RESPA claims.

V. Conclusion

Defendant has shown that there are no genuine issues of material fact, and therefore it is entitled to judgment as a matter of law against plaintiff's claims for breach of the HAMP Agreement and violations of RESPA. Consequently, the Court grants summary judgment in favor of defendant on all claims.

IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED BY THE COURT THAT the defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment (Doc. 19) is granted.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

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